(By University of Regina Sports Information)

REGINA – The University of Manitoba Bisons took a key late-season road victory over the Regina Cougars on Friday night, getting a match-high 12 kills from Adam DeJonckheere and winning in three straight sets at the Centre for Kinesiology, Health & Sport.

The Bisons (8-13) were helped out on Friday night by Brandon's victory over Mount Royal as they move into sole possession of ninth place in the conference standings. Manitoba can pull into a tie for the eighth and final Canada West postseason berth with another win on Saturday night, as the Bisons would draw even with idle Saskatchewan with one weekend to go.

Manitoba opened the match with convincing wins in the opening two sets. The first set saw the Bisons hold the Cougars to a negative hitting percentage and go on a big late run with Owen Schwartz serving. The Bisons scored eight consecutive points during that run and the Cougars emptied their bench to try to stop the bleeding, but Manitoba ended up with a 25-12 win.

And the second set was nearly as slanted in Manitoba's favour.

The Bisons hit .333 as a team as DeJonckheere heated up in the middle frame, putting down six kills while also combining with Brendan Warren on four blocks. Manitoba took the second by a 25-13 score, then held off the Cougars for a 25-22 win in a much tighter third set to clinch the match.

Besides DeJonckheere's 12 kills and six blocks, Manitoba also had seven kills from both Warren and Schwartz and six from Kevin Negus. Warren also had six blocks, while Dustin Spiring led all players with seven. Rookie setter Jack Mandryk had 28 assists and a huge game defensively with 16 digs, while usual starter Scott Vercaigne had three kills and two blocks in limited action late in the contest.

Brennan Goski and Dalton Wolfe both had five kills for the Cougars, who fall to 2-21 on the season.

The two teams will close out the weekend series on Saturday night at the CKHS. It'll be the Cougars' final match of the 2017-18 campaign, while Manitoba has a pair of home matches next weekend against UBC Okanagan to finish off the regular season.